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B.F.A. Game Design and Development

Computer and video game companies, directly and indirectly, employ more than 120,000 people in 34 states. The average salary for direct employees is $75,000.

UW-Stout's Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Game Design and Development is an award-winning program where students gain core skills in art and design such as drawing, 3D modeling, and animation. As a game artist, you will create the visual elements necessary for games including concept art, characters, level design, and animations.

Awards and Honors

Named one of the best in the U.S. by Princeton Review

National co-champion at the E3 College Game Competition

Received the Student Showcase Award, International Digital Media and Arts Association Conference

Nationally ranked by Animation Career Review

Game developers work in entertainment, training, advertising, simulation, and education.

The world is going digital. Entertainment is no exception. Sales of computer and video games have grown consistently over the past ten years and the industry is predicted to expand even more. Serious games feature the use of interactive game technologies within non-entertainment sectors for training, advertising, simulation or education. This is the future. Do you want to be a part of it?

Turning heads

November 3rd, 2017.
The second time in four years a video game designed by a team of UW-Stout students took a first place in a national competition.

Modern games are among the most demanding of computer applications, requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics and physics which form the basis of the 3D graphics, artificial intelligence and game engines that make up the game programs. Using core skills in art and design such as drawing, digital imaging and animation, game artists create the visual elements necessary for the game including heads-up interface components, 3D environments and 3D characters.

Game design and development students in the "Interactive Environments in L.A." Winterm class traveled to L.A. last week to present their work to the Jim Henson Company.
/ UW-Stout

To be successful in the industry, you must be skilled and able to work with your counterparts and apply those skills to creating games. UW-Stout offers Game Design and Development programs focusing on both art and computer science skills to serve the industry. Students will develop deeper skills in either discipline before joining together in the three capstone advanced project courses. These courses simulate industry by creating games using a team environment.

In 2013, $21.53 billion was spent on video games, hardware, and accessories. Game software and content accounted for approximately $15.4 billion of that total. Computer and video game companies directly and indirectly employ more than 120,000 people in 34 states. The average salary for direct employees is $90,000.

The game entertainment industry is the typical choice for careers, but game development skills are also used for serious purposes, such as military training, education, personal medical assistance and business simulations.

Artists create two- and three-dimensional models, animation and visual effects for video games, television, movies, and other media. Employment of multimedia artists and animators is expected to grow by 6 percent through 2022. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development predicts an 11.1 percent increase in the number of multimedia artists and animators from 2010-2020.

The video game industry is an emerging industry in Wisconsin. Raven Software, of Middleton, is largest and most established (1990). Other Wisconsin companies include Human Head Studios (Madison), Guild Software (Milwaukee), Filament Games (Madison), Learning Games Network (Madison), PerBlue (Madison), ZyMo Entertainment (Green Bay), and Digital Iris (Milwaukee).

New Freshmen

Submit a portfolio and essay to be reviewed by a committee of School of Art & Design faculty, who will determine admissions into the major. The priority deadline is no later than noon on the second Monday in January for fall admission. You will receive direction on how to submit your portfolio in a separate handout accompanying your acceptance letter from UW-Stout.

If you are not accepted into the program, but you do meet the requirements for general admission to the university, you will be admitted as an Undeclared student. You may then apply for a change of major in subsequent semesters, depending upon available openings in the program.

Transfer Students

Submit a portfolio and essay to be reviewed by a committee of School of Art & Design faculty, who will determine admissions into the major. The priority deadline is no later than noon on October 1st for spring admission and March 1st for fall admission. You will receive direction on how to submit your portfolio in a separate handout accompanying your acceptance letter to UW-Stout.

Transfer students are considered both fall and spring. This includes portfolio and essay submission priority dates. Students applying for one of the B.F.A. programs will be changed to Undeclared if you:

do not submit a portfolio/essayor

apply after the BFA program has closedor

are not approved for the BFA program after submission of a portfolio essay.

You may then apply for a change of major in subsequent semesters, depending upon available openings in the program.

Two galleries are housed in the School of Art and Design, a student gallery and the John Furlong Gallery. These, along with other spaces on and off campus, provide student, faculty and outside exhibition opportunities throughout the academic year.